Estrogenic compounds and animal growth promoters



United States Patent 3,239,344 ESTROGENIC COMPOUNDS AND ANIMAL GROWTH PROMOTERS Edward B. Hodge, Phil H. Hidy, and Herbert L. Wehrmeister, all of Terre Haute, Ind., assignors to Commercial Solvents Corporation, a corporation of Maryland No Drawing. Filed Feb. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 432,818

16 (llaims. (Cl. 992) R O A where A is the radicals CH=CH or the radical CH -CH R is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl e.g. lower alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, hexyl, etc., but hydro-gen is preferred, and R is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl e.g. lower alkyl such as methyl, hexyl, etc., hydrogen, canbamyl (CONH or unsubstituted or substituted aryl, e.g. monorin'g aromatic such as phenyl and dinitrophenyl. Compounds having the above formula wherein R is substituted or unsubstituted aryl, e.g. phenyl and bromophenyl; acyl, e.g. acetyl and valeryl; and aralkyl, e.g. benzyl are also contemplated by the present invention.

The compounds can be administered to animals by any suitable method including oral and parenteral administration. For example, the compound can be blended with ordinary feed containing nutritional values in an amount sufficient to produce the desired rate of growth and thus be fed directly to the animals, or the compound can be suspended in a suitable injection suspension medium such as peanut oil and injected parenterally. The amount of compound fed to an animal, of course, varies depending upon the animal, desired rate of growth and the like.

When the new products are to be administered in feeds, an animal feed composition may the prepared containing the usual nutritionally-balanced quantities of carbohy drates, proteins, vitamins and minerals, together with the compound of the present invention. Some of these usual dietary elements are grains, such as ground grain and grain by-products; animal protein substances, such as those found in fish meal and meat scraps; vegetable proteins like soybean oil or peanut oil meal; vitaminaceous materials, e.g. vitamin A and D mixtures; riboflavin supplements and other vitamin B complex members; and bone meal and limestone to provide minerals. A type of conventional feed material for use with cattle includes alfalfa hay and ground corn cobs together with supplementary vitaminaceous substances if desired.

The compounds of the present invention can be produced from the compound:

hereinafter referred to as the fermentation estrogenic substance (F.E.S.) by heating F.-E.S. with the corresponding hydrazine derivative in an acidic or neutral medium Patented Mar. 8, 1966 such as an aqueous or alcoholic solution, e.g. a lower alcohol such as an alkanol, e.g. methanol, etc. The corresponding hydrazine derivatives are represented by the formula:

H NNHR wherein R; has the above meaning and includes hydrazine; phenylhydrazine; 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine; semieanbazide; etc. In general, F.E.S. is heated with the hydrazine derivative at a temperature suificient to bring about the reaction. A convenient method is to heat to boiling.

The nomenclature used herein is based upon the PBS. compound. For example, the reaction product of F.E.S. and hydrazine is named P.E.S. hydrazone and the compound wherein the olefinic bond of HRS. is reduced is named dihydro PBS. The reaction product of dihydro F.E.S. and hydrazine is accordingly dihydro hydrazone.

The olefinic bond of F.E.S. can be reduced, for example, hy hydrogenation in the presence of a Group VIII metal, particularly platinum or palladium catalyst supported on a suitable carrier, e.g. charcoal. Generally the catalyst contains from about 0.01 to about 10% of the catalytic metal. The catalyst is used in a ratio of generally between about 0.02 and 2 grams and preferably between about 0.1 to 0.5 gram, particularly 0.2 gram, catalyst per gram of F.E.S. The reduction may be carried out while F.E.S. is suspended in a suitable solvent, e.g. an alcohol, especially a lower alkanol such as 2-propanol, ethanol, methanol, etc. and acids. e.g. acetic acid at ambient temperatures or temperatures of, for example, 15 to 40 C., and ambient pressures since only the presence of hydrogen is required. The use of elevated pressure, e.g. from about 1 to atmospheres is, however, preferred.

In producing compounds of the present invention where R is alkyl, conventional alkylation procedures can be used to replace the H atom of one or both of the OH groups on the benzene ring of F.E.S. with an alkyl group. Alkylated F.E.S. compounds can be produced, for example, by first alkylating F.E.S. and then treating it with a hydrazine as set forth supra. The alkylation can be by reaction with the corresponding dialkyl sulfates, e.g. dimethyl sulfate, diethyl sulfate, etc. to produce the dialkyl F.E.S. or a monoalkyl RES. with the alkyl group replacing the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group on the benzene ring ortho to the ester group. Furthermore, a monomethyl F.E.S. compound with the methyl group replacing the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group para to the ester group can be selectively produced useing diazomethane.

The fermentation estrogenic substance (F.E.S.) is so named since a convenient method for producing it is by cultivating, on a suitable nutrient medium, the organism Gibberella zeae (Gordon) on deposit at the Northern Utilization Research and Development Division of the United States Department of Agriculture under the number NRRL-2S30.

The following examples are offered to illustrate this invention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific materials, amounts, and procedures set forth. The first example illustrates preparation of a suitable inoculum containing the organism Gibberella zeae (Gordon) NRRL-2830.

Example I A spore sand culture containing Gibberella zeae NRRL-283O was: aseptically placed in a sterile tube containing 15 milliliters of Czapeks-Dox solution and a small amount of agar. This meduim was then incubated for about 168 hours at approximately 25 C. At the end of the incubation period, the medium was washed with 5 milliliters of sterile deionized water and transferred to a sterile tube containing 45 milliliters of Czapeks-Dox solution. The contents of the tube were then incubated for about 96 hours at about 25 C. after which the material was available for use in inoculation of a fermentation medium.

The following example illustrates the fermentation of the organism Gibberellw zeae (Gordon) NRRL-283O to produce F.E.S.

Example II To a 2 liter flask were added 300 grams of finely divided corn. The flask and its contents were then sterilized and after sterilization 150 milliliters of sterile deionized water were added. To the mixture in the flask were then added 45 milliliters of the inoculum prepared by the process of Example I and the material was thoroughly mixed. The mixed material was then incubated for about days at C. in a dark room in a watersaturated atmosphere.

The following example illustrates the recovery of F.E.S. from the fermentation medium.

Example III A 300 gram portion of fermented material produced by the method of Example 11 was placed in 500 milliliters of deionized water and slurried. The slurry was then heated for about 15 minutes at 75 C., 300 grams of filter aid were then added and the material was filtered. The solid filtered material containing the anabolic substance was then air dried, and 333 grams of the dried cake were then extracted with 500 milliliters of ethanol. This procedure was repeated three more times. The ethanol extract was evaporated to dryness under vacuum to give 6.84 grams of solid material. This solid material was then dissolved in 20 milliliters of chloroform and extracted with milliliters of an aqueous solution containing 5% by weight of sodium carbonate having an adjusted pH of about 11.2. The extraction process was repeated seven more times. The pH of the sodium-carbonate extract was then adjusted to 6.2 with hydrochloric acid, to yield an anabolic substance-containing precipitate. The precipitate and the aqueous sodium carbonate extract were then each in turn extracted with 75 milliliters of ethyl ether. This procedure was repeated three more times to yield a light yellow ethereal solution, which was then evaporated to yield 116 milligrams of solid anabolic substance. This material was then subjected to multiple transfer countercurrent distribution using 100 tubes and a solvent system consisting of two parts chloroform and two parts carbon tetrachloride as the lower phase and four parts methanol and one part water as the upper phase, all parts by volume. The solid material obtained from the multiple transfer countercurrent distribution was F.E.S.

The following example illustrates the production of F.E.S. dinitrophenyl hydrazone.

Example IV F.E.S. was added in an amount of 0.1 gram to 10 milliliters of a saturated methanolic solution of dinitrophenyl hydrazine, the solution was acidified with HCl and heated to boiling. The product was crystallized from the hot solution and was found to have a melting point of 283-285 C.

Example V F.E.S. hydrazone is produced by heating an aqueous solution of F.E.S. with excess hydrazine in the presence of acetic acid. The F.E.S. hydrazone is separated from the resulting solution.

Example VI F.E.S. semicarbazone is produced by heating RES. in a methanol and water solution with semicarbazide hydrochloride in the presence of sodium acetate. The F.E.S. semicarbazone is crystallized from the resulting solution.

The following example illustrates the production of dihydro F.E.S.

Example VII Two 10 gram portions of F.E.S., each in 200 milliliters acetic acid, were catalytically reduced at room temperature in the presence of 1.2 grams PdO at a hydrogen pressure of about psi. The combined reduction mixtures were heated to boiling, filtered, and the filter cake was washed with milliliters of hot acetic acid. The cooled filtrate was added with stirring to 2 liters water. The mixture was stirred for 15 minutes and the white solid was collected by filtration, washed with water and dried in a vacuum desiccator to yield 19.1 grams of dihydro F.E.S. having a melting point of 191193 C.

The following example illustrates the production of monomethyl and dimethyl PBS. to the corresponding dihydro F.E.S. compounds, the monomethyl F.E.S. having a methyl group which replaced the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group on the benzene ring ortho to the ester group, and the production of the corresponding methyl hydrazones.

Example VIII Dimethyl sulfate (5 milliliters) was added to a solution of 2.24 grams RES. in 80 milliliters of a 10% NaOH solution and 20 milliliters of water. The mixture was stirred for one-half hour at 18-20 C. (cooling bath) and an additional 5 milliliters of dimethyl sulfate was added. After an additional minutes of stirring at 2026 C., the solid precipitate, Solid A, was collected by filtration, washed with water and dried. The

filtrate from Solid A was acidified with 25 milliliters 12 N H to yield a second precipitate, Solid B, which was collected, washed with water, and dried.

Solid A (0.79 gram having a melting point of 114- 118 C.) was recrystallized from a mixture of 10 milliliters water and. 15 milliliters ethanol to yield 0.66 gram of dimethyl F.E.S. having a melting point of 108- C.

Solid B (1.39 grams having a melting point of 152- 162 C.) was recrystallized twice from a mixture of water and alcohol to yield 0.80 gram of monomethyl F.E.S. having a melting point of 169 174 C. Analysis of Solid B showed:

Cale. Found (Cid-1240.5)

Percent C G8. 65 67. 97 Percent H 7. 28 7. 16 Percent OMe 9. 34 9. 28

Dihydro F.E.S.-2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazone is produced by heating an aqueous solution of dihydro F.E.S. with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine according to Example IV.

Example X Dimethyl F.E.S. phenylhydrazone is produced by heating an aqueous solution of dimethyl F.E.S. and phenyl hydrazine in the presence of hydrochloric acid to boiling. The product is recovered from the resulting solution.

Example XI Monomethyl F.E.S. with the methyl group replacing the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group on the benzene ring para to the ester group was prepared by the following procedure.

Nitrosomethylurea in an amount of 1.2 grams was slowly added to a cold mixture of 3.6 milliliters of 50% potassium hydroxide and 17 milliliters of ether. After a few minutes the yellow ether layer of the mixture was decanted, dried over potassium hydroxide, and then added to a solution of 0.30 gram RES. in 17 milliliters of ether. The resulting yellow mixture was left overnight in a loosely stoppered flask and then ether and diazomethane were evaporated off using a steam bath. The remaining gummy residue was crystallized by adding 3 milliliters of water, heating to 60 C., and adding ethanol almost to solution. On cooling, crystals formed, yielding 0.137 gram of product having a melting point of 111-116 C. which was again recrystallized in the same way to yield 0.082 gram of monomethyl F.E.S. having a melting point of 120122 C. and the following analysis:

Cale. Found (019 2405) Percent O 68.7 68. 3 Percent H 7. 28 7. 38 Percent OCT-I3 9. 34 9. 17

The monomethyl F.E.S. is reacted with phenylhydrazine to produce monomethyl F.E.S. phenylhydrazone.

Example XII R-O -A wherein A is selected from the group consisting of the radicals -CH:CH and -CH CH R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl, and R is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, hydrogen, carbamyl, and aryl.

2. An animal feed comprising a nutritional diluent and a growth promoting amount of the compound of claim 1.

3. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical -CH:CH and R and R are hydrogen.

4. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH:CH, R is hydrogen and R is carbarnyl.

5. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH CH R is methyl and R is methyl.

6. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH CH R is methyl, the R ortho to the ester group is methyl and the other R is hydrogen.

7. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH CH R is hydrogen and R is 2,4-dinitrophenyl.

3. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH=CH, R is methyl and R is phenyl.

9. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH CH, R is phenyl, the R para to the ester group is methyl and the other R is hydrogen.

10. An animal feed comprising a nutritional diluent and growth promoting amounts of the compound of claim 3.

11. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 4.

12. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 5.

13. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 6.

14. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 7.

15. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 8.

16. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of nutritional diluent the compound of nutritional diluent the compound of nutritional diluent the compound of nutritional diluent the compound of nutritional diluent the compound of nutritional diluent the compound of claim 9.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,842,051 8/1958 Brian et a1. 99-2 OTHER REFERENCES Stob et al.: Nature, vol. 196, page 1318, December 29, 1962.

A. LOUIS MONACELL, Primary Examiner. 

2. AN ANIMAL FEED COMPRISING A NUTRITIONAL DILUENT AND A GROWTH PROMOTING AMOUNT OF THE COMPOUND OF CLAIM
 1. 